Springfield Rotary donates food, money to Gray House

The Rotary Club of Springfield collected 185 pounds of food and $291 in donations during the month of August for Gray House. From left: Deirdre Griffin, director of the food pantry and thrift store at Gray House; Jay L. Leib, Springfield Rotary Club 2012-2013 vice president; and Rotarian Susan A. Mastroianni, food drive coordinator.
Submitted photo

Rotarians collected 185 pounds of food and $291 in cash donations at their weekly meetings for the Gray House. In addition, they collected several hundred toothbrushes and toothpaste from Dr. David A. Hirsh.

Vice president Jay L. Leib recently presented the check to Deirdre Griffin, director of the food pantry and thrift store at the Gray House. Leib was joined by Rotarian Susan A. Mastroianni, food drive coordinator, in making the presentation.

The Gray House is a small neighborhood human service agency located on Sheldon Street in the North End neighborhood. Its mission to help neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment in the North End.

The Gray House's food pantry serves as a source of emergency food for those in need. In 2011, they provided emergency food to nearly 8,000 people. Approximately 45 percent of the clients receiving emergency food are children.